X-ray evidence of temperature-dependent conformational disorder of hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid molecules in crystal structures

FROM an analysis of X-ray data on carboxylic acids 1 we have established the stability of the approximately coplanar arrangement of the non-hydrogen atoms of the acetic acid group (C–COOH) with the α-substituent in α-substituted carboxylic acids (Fig. 1). In the crystal structures of tartronic acid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1975-10, Vol.257 (5527), p.625-626
Main Authors: KANTERS, J. A, ROELOFSEN, G, KROON, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humanities and Social Sciences
letter
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:FROM an analysis of X-ray data on carboxylic acids 1 we have established the stability of the approximately coplanar arrangement of the non-hydrogen atoms of the acetic acid group (C–COOH) with the α-substituent in α-substituted carboxylic acids (Fig. 1). In the crystal structures of tartronic acid (X = OH) (ref. 2), aminomalonic acid (X = NH 2 ) (ref. 3) and fluoroacetic acid (X = F) (ref. 4) the coplanar cis conformation has been found. In crystals of unsubstituted monocarboxylic acids the acetic acid group has been found to be coplanar with the β-carbon atom 1 .
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/257625a0